Oasis: What's the Story?

by Iain Robertson

*THE MUST-READ BOOK FOR THE UPCOMING OASIS REUNION TOUR*

'Deserves to stay on the bestseller lists for a long time to come' - Caitlin Moran
'Brilliant' - NME

Oasis were a band like bands used to be. Hard-drinking and substance abusing. If they liked you, they loved you. If they didn't, you had to be prepared for confrontation.

Iain Robertson is used to tough jobs - after retiring from the Parachute Regiment, he took on jobs guarding George Harrison, Gary Moore and Johnny Rotten. But keeping Oasis on the rails after debut album Definitely Maybe ignited their rise toward global superstardom would be the toughest gig of them all.

Oasis would explode into public consciousness and have the world at their feet in the wake of their epic first album and a huge world tour. Iain was side-by-side as their road manager and minder, twenty-four hours a day, eight days a week, as they took on the world and won. No one was closer. Now updated with new unpublished material to celebrate the thirty year anniversary of Definitely Maybe and ahead of their upcoming reunion tour, this story is the defining chronicle of life on tour with Oasis.

Genres: Music

336 pages, Paperback

Published May 23, 2024

Reviews

[Olive Fellows (abookolive) · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took me approximately ten years to finish this because, frankly, I found the author pretty annoying and self-satisfied.

This is his account of being the iconic rock band Oasis's tour manager during the '90s. As you can imagine, it was a raucous, party-hard environment, and the boys required a lot of wrangling. Liam, especially.

I appreciated the insights into the group at this time and occasionally, I appreciated how Robertson described things, but a lot of this was written in an experimental, stream-of-consciousness way, even once attempting to "recreate" the vibe of an Oasis show by writing nonsensically - think slurring your words in a drunken stupor, but's down on the page. I wasn't a fan.

Also, my opinion that Liam is a twat remains firm after reading this. Team Noel until the end.

[Chris Barstow · Rating 2 out of 5]

A breezy read with some fun anecdotes but repetitive, too much focus on just the chaos and a very odd writing style in places.

[Charlie Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book, especially with the Oasis reunion in full swing. I enjoyed picking it up and learning about the band and their early touring life from the perspective of a TM. Some people have complained about the angle, but as someone in the industry, I found the perspective interesting. The only downside is the writing style goes walkabouts on numerous occasions, which does more to damage the flow of things than show cleverness, and technically Ian was only with the band a short time which means the book doesn’t cover much ground.

[Jak-Luke Sharp · Rating 2 out of 5]

Horrid. The writing style and faux intellectual aesthetic does nothing but alienate. Of 300 or so pages this might have 40 of intresting on the subject matter. The authors tidbits as narrator and subject do nothing to immerse or entertain.

[Conor Gardiner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to an extent, a lot of drink and drugs abuse but cool to hear some of the stories on tour, especially that stint in America 94

[Gerry McCaffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprisingly well written, just thought it tailed off a little towards the end.

[Danny fardell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent account of a year on the road being Oasis tour manager in the early days.

[Rhys Webster · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

2.5 but 3* to be nice. Meh